Roland AX7

Nate · 08-22-2006, 06:43 PM

If you have a decent computer that you don't mind lugging around with you everywhere (i.e. a laptop), you could also try going the MIDI-interface + soft-synth route. A lot of keyboard gurus these days swear by soft-synths, which are usually less expensive and slightly more flexible than traditional synths or sound modules. I still prefer hardware myself, especially for the price you have to pay for a decent computer + MIDI interface to use as your "music computer," but I'd be wrong to not mention it as an option to you.

Ax · 08-22-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

That's actually a pretty fun (and semi-desireable) synth. It had a non-MIDI-fied version, though. Make sure that your school has the one with MIDI capability, including MIDI IN.

no it doesn't i checked today, but i love that thing, it's all in one... if it did though... it's really old... but we play Birdland (go look it up if you've never heard of it, there's a particular version think it's manheim steamroller) and it's really really cool...

Ax · 08-22-2006, 09:18 PM

are there any keytars that have all that stuff?

Nate · 08-23-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

are there any keytars that have all that stuff?

The old Roland SH-101 (what Ronnie Martin from Joy Electric uses onstage, I think) is an all-in-one keytar.

There are others, none current, including the Yamaha SHS series and a few other Rolands... but the SH-101 is the most commonly seen of the vintage keytars.

Ax · 08-23-2006, 12:59 PM

wonder if i can find one used in good condition... i also found a small synth from korg with a vocoder for 300 at MF

Nate · 08-23-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

wonder if i can find one used in good condition... i also found a small synth from korg with a vocoder for 300 at MF

The MicroKorg? That's $400 at MF. I listed it earlier.

Play one before you buy one. The keys are AWFUL!

Nate · 08-23-2006, 01:04 PM

There are a couple of SH-101's on eBay right now. The one that looks better seems to be missing the optional handle / neck / grip. You can always buy that separately, but it's a bit pricey. They're both at about $350 right now, but with tons of bids... so probably more like $500 final selling price.

Ax · 08-23-2006, 01:04 PM

i bid on this it seems to be all in one.. if not it's much cheaper than the AX7

Nate · 08-23-2006, 01:08 PM

That was one of the Yamaha's I mentioned earlier. It does, indeed, have a basic General MIDI soundset. My beefs with it are a) it's not a synth, just a bunch of sampled patches (it'll sound like a 1980's Radio Shack / Casio / Yamaha PSR keyboard... some sounds will be fun, but most will be useless... and no synthesis available); and b) I think it's another, like the MicroKorg, that uses the stupid miniature-sized keys. A question I forgot to ask until now might be pertinent... why are you looking for a keytar? What do you want to do?

Ax · 08-23-2006, 01:16 PM

i want to have fun with it, experiment with some techno/prog sounds in my rock... i wonder if i can change my maximum bid and lower it...

Nate · 08-23-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

i want to have fun with it, experiment with some techno/prog sounds in my rock... i wonder if i can change my maximum bid and lower it...

The Yamaha isn't really what you're looking for, I don't think... although you could probably use it as a MIDI controller and just bypass its internal sounds, saving you a bit on a controller as compared to the AX-1 / AX-7.

I don't think eBay will allow you to retract a bid unless you specifically arrange so with the seller. If you really want to change / retract your bid, you should contact the seller as soon as possible with a reasonable explanation.

I really think you'd do better buying a small synth like the MicroKorg or Micron (there are others I could recommend, as well) for now, and look for a cheap used AX-1 or AX-7 down the road a bit for the strap-on controller fun.

Nate · 08-23-2006, 01:23 PM

A used SH-101 would seem to be almost perfect for you, though. It's a bit cheesier looking (if that's even possible) than the more modern strap-on controllers (it's really a bit of a bonus feature on the SH-101 that it can be worn), but it's a good little synth that has stood the test of time, and wouldn't require any knowledge of MIDI programming (which is a pain), as you could just setup your sounds directly on the synth using standard synth controls you're probably already familiar with from that Korg you mentioned earlier.

Nate · 08-23-2006, 01:24 PM

Out of curiousity, what was your highest bid on the Yamaha?

Ax · 08-23-2006, 01:24 PM

yeah, it does have midi.. maybe somebody will outbid me...

Ax · 08-23-2006, 01:25 PM

150, and i dont' know how to ask for a retraction.. and the SHS-101's i've seen weren't really keytars... unless i'm looking at the wrong thing...